Top 10 Best Foods for Dog with Diarrhea
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Dogs are one of the most common pets in the United States, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some dogs love to eat, while others could take or leave food. If your dog has diarrhea, it can be tough to know what to feed them. In this article, we will discuss the 20 best foods for dogs with diarrhea.
- Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Rice Dog Food
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP
- Brothers Complete Advanced Allergy Lamb Meal and Egg
- Canidae Grain-Free Pure Real Salmon and Sweet Potato
- Taste of the Wild Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Chicken Flavor
- Pupper Chicken Topper
- Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Turkey and Potato
- Nom Nom Fresh
- Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain-Free Chicken Turkey + Duck
- Blue Buffalo Basics Duck & Potato
- Zignature Turkey Formula Limited Ingredient Dog Food
- Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free Natural Hypoallergenic Recipe
- Nutro Limited Ingredient Diet Venison & Sweet Potato
- Just 6 by Rachel Ray Nutrish Hypoallergenic Food
- Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat Dry Dog Food
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Z/D Skin Food Sensitivities
- Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets
- Solid Gold Wolf King Bison & Brown Rice
Diarrhea in dogs can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic), dietary indiscretions, medications, and stress. If your dog is experiencing diarrhea, it’s important to determine the underlying cause so that appropriate treatment can be administered.
Symptoms of diarrhea include frequent bowel movements (typically three or more times per day), soft or watery stools, and abdominal cramping. Diarrhea can also lead to dehydration, so it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of thirst (e.g., increased urination, lethargy) and administer plenty of fluids if your dog is affected.
Can fruits help a dog with diarrhea?
Fruits can help a dog with diarrhea by adding fiber to their diet. Fiber helps to bulk up the stools and makes them easier to pass. Adding fruits to your dog’s diet may also help to firm up their stools and reduce the frequency of diarrhea episodes.
Some of the best fruits for dogs with diarrhea include:
- Pears
- Blueberries
- Bananas
- Apples
- Cranberries
If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, it is important to seek veterinary care. Diarrhea can be a sign of a serious underlying condition and should not be ignored. If you are concerned about your dog’s health, please contact your veterinarian.
There are a few simple home remedies that can help to ease your dog’s diarrhea, including:
- Adding canned pumpkin to your dog’s food (plain, unsweetened pumpkin is best)
- Feeding small, frequent meals instead of one large meal
- Avoiding fatty and greasy foods
- Avoiding dairy products
If home remedies don’t seem to be helping, or if your dog is displaying any other concerning symptoms (e.g., vomiting, blood in stool, severe abdominal pain), it’s important to consult your veterinarian. They will be able to determine the underlying cause of diarrhea and recommend the best course of treatment.
One of the most important things you can do for a dog with diarrhea is to make sure they stay hydrated. Offer small frequent meals of bland, easily digestible food.
What is a bland digestible food ingredient for dogs with diarrhea?
There are a few different bland, easily digestible food ingredients that you can use for dogs with diarrhea. These include:
- Boiled chicken breast (no skin or bones)
- Plain, unsweetened yogurt
- White rice
- Oatmeal
- Canned pumpkin (plain, unsweetened)
If home remedies and bland, easily digestible foods are not helping to improve your dog’s diarrhea, it’s important to consult your veterinarian. They will be able to determine the underlying cause of diarrhea and recommend the best course of treatment.
Is rice or oatmeal better for dogs with diarrhea?
- There is no definitive answer as to whether rice or oatmeal is better for dogs with diarrhea. Some veterinarians recommend rice, as it is thought to be more binding than oatmeal.
- However, other veterinarians believe that oatmeal is easier on the stomach and may be more likely to stay down. Ultimately, it’s important to consult your veterinarian and make a decision based on their recommendation.
Why is Pumpkin good for dogs with diarrhea?
- Pumpkin is another food that can be helpful for dogs with diarrhea. This humble vegetable is rich in fiber, which can help to bulk up stool and ease the passage through the intestines.
- It’s also packed with vitamins A and C, which can help to boost your dog’s immune system. Just be sure to give canned pumpkin, not the sugary kind meant for pies.
Is Chicken and Rice good for dogs with diarrhea?
- Another home remedy that can be helpful for dogs with diarrhea is chicken and rice. The blandness of this dish can help to soothe an upset stomach, while the rice provides much-needed nutrients and calories.
- Again, be sure to cook the chicken thoroughly before feeding it to your dog. You may also want to avoid adding any extra seasoning to the dish.
Is Scrambled Egg good for dogs with diarrhea?
- While diarrhea is never fun for dogs (or their humans), there are some simple home remedies that can help. One of these is feeding your dog scrambled eggs. Rich in protein and easy to digest, scrambled eggs can give your dog the nutrients he needs without upsetting his stomach.
- Just be sure to cook them thoroughly and avoid adding any extra seasoning.
What else should I know about treating my dog with a new diet for the best foods for dogs with diarrhea?
It is important to start slowly when introducing new foods to your dog’s diet. Sudden changes in diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset and may exacerbate diarrhea. Start by adding a small amount of the new food to your dog’s regular food and gradually increase the amount over time.
If you notice any worsening of diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms, please stop feeding the new food and contact your veterinarian. Adding probiotics to your dog’s diet may also be helpful in treating diarrhea. Probiotics are live, beneficial bacteria that help to maintain a healthy balance of gut flora.
They can be found in commercial pet foods or supplements, or they can be given orally as a powder or liquid. Probiotics may help to reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea episodes.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health, please contact your veterinarian. They will be able to provide you with more information on the best foods for dogs with diarrhea and how to treat it.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for Diarrhea
Simply Nourish Sweet Potato & Salmon Puppy Dog Food — Best for Puppies
If you have a little pup that’s having trouble keeping food down, Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet is a great way to start them off on the right paw.
It relies heavily on salmon, which is both gentle on stomachs and excellent for developing systems. Salmon is full of omega fatty acids, which are important for brain development and immune system function.
The food is high in protein, which helps build muscle. It’s also extremely high in fiber, which should help form consistent stools.
The kibble smells strongly of fish, which is usually good news for dogs and bad news for owners. It’s also fairly expensive, which may put it out of some owners’ price ranges.
It’s extremely important to start a dog off with proper nutrition, and Simply Nourish Limited Ingredient Diet is one of the best ways to do that.
- Strong fish odor
- On the pricey side
- Fiber for forming solid stools
- Filled with omega fatty acids
- High in protein
- Good for developing brains and immune systems
Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition Dog Food — Best Value
The packaging might give you a headache, but Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition may also help solve your dog’s stomachache and at a price that won’t hurt your pocketbook either. In fact, we believe it to be the best dog food for diarrhea for the money.
It uses easy-to-digest grains like rice and barley; there’s also oatmeal and beet pulp, both of which can keep your dog regular without making them too regular.
The protein relies heavily on animal meals (specifically chicken and fish). This gives your dog plenty of nutritional variety, while also loading them up with glucosamine for joint health.
There are quite a few high-quality fruits and veggies inside each bag, including cranberries, blueberries, and kelp. That gives your dog plenty of important vitamins and nutrients from natural sources.
We would have preferred to see lean cuts of meat in addition to the animal meal, but that would likely have driven the price up. The salt content is also higher than we’d like.
Still, if you need something that’s both inexpensive and gentle on your dog’s stomach, Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition is an excellent choice.
- Lacks lean cuts of meat
- High salt content
- Oatmeal and beet pulp keeps dogs regular
- Glucosamine for joint health
- Great value for the price
- Uses easy-to-digest grains
- Plenty of high-quality fruits and veggies inside
Ollie Fresh Chicken Dog Food – Best Overall
Our favorite dog food for dogs with upset stomachs and diarrhea is Ollie’s Fresh Chicken Dog Food. This fresh dog food company works closely with pet health experts to develop recipes customized to your dog’s dietary needs. When it comes to stomach issues that is especially important.
The recipe is packed full of protein and is slow-cooked to maintain the best flavor and nutrition. The recipe is also full of quality ingredients that help support good digestive health for pooches who may have allergies or inntolerences to the yucky fillers other big-name brands use. The first five ingredients are chicken, carrots, peas, rice, and chicken liver.
If your dog has consistent digestive issues, Ollie Fresh Chicken recipe is your best bet for getting their gut back on track. We think this is the best dog food for upset stomach that you can find this year.
- Subscription-based
- High in quality protein
- Convenient delivery
- Low carb
- Made with premium ingredients
Zignature Turkey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Zignature Limited Ingredient Formula is a grain-free recipe, eliminating one of the most common canine food allergies right off the bat. It’s also a limited-ingredient formula, reducing the potential risks inside each bag.
The first ingredient is turkey, with turkey meal following close behind. The overall protein levels are high at 32%, and it’s full of omega fatty acids due to the sunflower oil and flaxseed.
We’re happy to see taurine on the ingredients list. This amino acid is vital to heart development, and many foods neglect to include it.
There aren’t that many fruits and veggies inside; it’s mostly limited to peas and chickpeas. While these are healthy, many dogs don’t care for the taste, so your pup may turn their nose up at it. There’s also way more salt than we’d like to see.
Overall, Zignature Limited Ingredient Formula is an excellent food for any dog, regardless of their digestive health. If it had a few more vegetables inside, it might even compete for the top spot.
- Not that many fruits and veggies inside
- Some dogs might not care for taste
- High sodium content
- Many omega fatty acids
- First ingredient is meat
- High protein levels
- Includes taurine for heart health
Purina Pro Plan Gastroenteric Formula Canned Dog Food
A canned option that requires a doctor’s authorization, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula is similar to the previously mentioned Hill’s food. However, it’s a definite step down in several respects.
For one thing, there are meat by-products in this food. It’s also loaded with plant protein, which is difficult for dogs to process. There’s quite a bit of soy in this food, which is a cheap filler that irritates many dogs’ digestive tracts.
The basic idea behind this food is to limit the amount of fat in order to reduce the likelihood of an upset stomach. It will likely work in that respect, but unfortunately, by cutting out fat, you’ll also reduce the chances that your dog will feel full after meals. This could lead to lethargy or overeating, if they’re particularly persuasive.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Gastroenteric Formula is a good choice if your only concern is settling your dog’s stomach; as a complete food, though, it leaves much to be desired.
- May not leave dogs feeling full
- High soy content increases risk of irritation
- Loaded with animal by-products
- Doctor’s authorization needed for purchase
- Plant protein doesn’t get processed as easily as animal proteins
- Low-fat recipe is usually gentle on upset stomachs
Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
Wellness Simple is another limited-ingredient formula, although it’s not quite as packed with protein as the option from Zignature.
The protein levels are average at 25%, but it does use salmon and salmon meal to get to that level, so your pooch will get plenty of omega fatty acids with their meat. The flaxseed and canola oil inside helps quite a bit to that end as well.
However, the next ingredient after the fish is potatoes, which may cause upset stomachs. That’s usually limited to gas rather than diarrhea, though.
It boasts an impressive array of vitamins and minerals, including zinc, iron, beta-carotene, and vitamin A. Your dog should get all the nutrition they need despite ingesting a limited variety of food.
The fat levels are low, which means your dog could get hungry between meals. It also doesn’t come in a resealable bag, so if you don’t put it in an airtight container, it will likely spoil before you run out.
Wellness Simple is a good-but-not-great option, one that should keep your dog’s digestive tract in fine working order.
- Potatoes may cause gas
- Low fat levels
- Doesn’t come in resealable bag
- Salmon and salmon meal are first ingredients
- Packed with omega fatty acids
- Impressive array of vitamins and minerals
Royal Canin Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
It’s not cheap, but if your dog suffers from frequent bouts of diarrhea, you might want to consider trying Royal Canin Hydrolyzed Protein.
As you might’ve guessed from the name, the food is made with hydrolyzed proteins. These have been broken down into tiny pieces, making them easier for your dog to absorb, with less risk of triggering an immune reaction.
The first ingredient is brewer’s rice, which is gentle on upset tummies. You’ll also find beet pulp inside, which adds fiber with little risk of causing indigestion.
The kibble is loaded with important vitamins and minerals as well, which is good because dogs with poor digestive tracts often have trouble absorbing the nutrients from the food they eat.
Besides the expense, our biggest issue with this food is the inclusion of soy protein. Some dogs have problems tolerating soy, which could cause digestive issues itself.
- Expensive
- Uses soy, which some dogs have issues with
- Brewer’s rice is gentle on stomachs
- Beet pulp for fiber
- Uses easy-to-absorb protein
- Low risk of triggering immune response
- Loaded with vitamins and minerals
VICTOR Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
The manufacturers of VICTOR Select took pains to keep any potentially problematic foods out of their formula. It’s gluten-free, with high-quality, easy-to-digest ingredients.
Beef meal is the first ingredient; it’s gentle on stomachs while also being high in protein and other important amino acids. The grains are similarly easy to process, as they include rice and sorghum.
There are several vegetable powders inside as well. These are typically easier to digest than whole chunks, so your pup should get all the nutrition and you should have to deal with less of a mess.
There’s not much protein in here and the moisture levels are low. This can solve the diarrhea problem, but at the expense of causing constipation instead. The dryness may also make it difficult for dogs to get down, so make sure your pup has plenty of water handy.
We admire the fact that VICTOR Select lacks any suspect ingredients, but its other problems knock it several rungs down the ladder.
- May cause constipation
- Limited amount of protein
- Low moisture levels
- Can be difficult for dogs to get down without water
- No suspect ingredients inside
- Grains and proteins are gentle on stomachs
- Vegetable powders easier to digest than whole veggies
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dry Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin is specially designed for dogs with touchy digestive tracts. It’s good in that respect, but it has some other flaws that keep us from ranking it any higher on this list.
It uses a basic chicken-and-rice formula; this is good, as those ingredients are generally easy for dogs to digest. The other grains are easy to process as well, as they include rice, barley, sorghum, and the like.
There’s plenty of prebiotic fiber in each bite, which should help your pup form solid stools. It also helps keep everything in working order inside the gut.
The biggest issue we have with this food is that it uses artificial flavors. There’s no need for these — the chicken and rice should be tasty enough without decoration — and the extra chemicals increase the risk of stomach upset.
The inclusion of soybean oil introduces another potential allergen, and the nutrient levels are nothing special. The kibble is flat as well, which makes it difficult for many dogs (especially snub-nosed breeds) to pick up and eat.
For a food that’s intended to address stomach issues, Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin has questionable ingredients.
- Includes artificial flavors
- Soybean oil is a potential allergen
- Nutrient levels are average at best
- Flat kibble is hard to pick up and eat
- Chicken and rice are gentle on stomachs
- Plenty of prebiotic fiber in each bite
- Grains are easy to digest
Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Canned Dog Food
If you’d prefer to feed your pup a canned food rather than a kibble, Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care is the best of the bunch. However, we still feel that it’s considerably behind the best dry foods on the market today.
Water is the primary ingredient, which is good for animals that might be dehydrated due to chronic diarrhea. However, despite all the moisture, this is still a dry pâté, so you may need to add more water to it. After that, you have rice and a variety of meats.
One of the most prominent of those meats is pork by-product. That’s the part of the pig that’s left over after the good stuff has been picked clean, and it’s not something that you’re likely going to want your dog to eat.
There’s also quite a bit of corn in here. Corn is full of empty calories, so it can contribute to obesity. Not only that, but many dogs also have issues digesting it, so it seems out of place in a formula like this.
Also, keep in mind that you can only buy Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care with a prescription from your vet. That’s more hassle to get a food that we feel isn’t on par with some of the others on this list.
- Pâté is still dry
- Uses pork by-product
- Has empty calories
- Corn can be an allergen
- Requires a prescription
- Good for dehydrated dogs
- Boasts a variety of meats
Blue Buffalo Basics Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Basics is the company’s limited-ingredient brand, and this food is no exception. It’s limited to turkey, potatoes, and peas.
Turkey and turkey meal make up two of the first three ingredients, with potatoes in between. We’re obviously not a fan of the gas-causing potatoes, but the turkey is a nice touch.
The company includes its proprietary LifeSource Bits, which are basically little chunks of vitamins that are mixed in with the kibble. It’s a good way to give your dog all the nutrients they need.
However, some dogs don’t care for the taste of the bits, so you may find them left in the bowl after your dog’s done. Also, the recipe uses pea protein, which dogs don’t process as well as they do protein from animal sources.
The kibble is also on the large side, so it may be difficult for smaller dogs to eat.
All in all, Blue Buffalo Basics is a nutrient-rich food, but that may not do your pooch much good if they refuse to touch it.
- Many dogs don’t care for taste
- Potatoes are second ingredient
- Uses hard-to-process pea protein
- Large kibble may be hard for small dogs to eat
- Uses turkey
- Company’s LifeSource Bits are full of nutrients
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Food for Dogs with Diarrhea
The products we reviewed are designed to help canines with digestive problems. However, they’re not meant to treat dogs with severe medical issues, like bacterial infections. If your dog has frequent diarrhea or bloody bowel movements, take your dog to the vet immediately. After treating your pet, your doctor will probably recommend a specialized diet to help your dog recover.
If you’re undecided which brand is best for your pup, you can examine these tips for more details about analyzing different products.
Dog Food Ingredients
If your pet has not been tested for food allergies, it could still react to one of the brands designed for sensitive stomachs. Although the products are made for dogs with loose stools, some ingredients could irritate the animal’s stomach. For instance, dogs with chicken sensitivities should not consume meals with chicken byproducts, chicken meat, or broth. Luckily, you can find several meals without poultry ingredients.
Dog Food Price and Quantity
You’ve probably noticed that pet food for a sensitive stomach is more expensive than standard flavors, but most products are not too expensive. When you’re checking online prices, be sure to examine the food’s weight. A $90.00 bag of food may seem expensive at first, but if it in 35-pound bags, it’s only $0.16 per ounce. If you serve half a pound portions to your dog every day, your daily cost is only $1.29.
Dog Food Flavor
Treating your pet’s diarrhea is the primary reason for buying specialized products, but you also have to find a brand that your dog likes. The high-quality dog foods with high customer approval ratings are useless if your dog cannot stomach the flavor.
You may have to try a few brands before you settle on a product your pet enjoys. Some companies provide free samples if you follow them online, but unfortunately, most manufacturers do not offer high-end product samples.
Veterinary Advice
You can find tips and product recommendations online, but your veterinarian is the best source for unbiased information about pet products. If your dog suffers from diarrhea or IBS, your vet will give your dog a fecal test to check for worms and may run a blood or urine analysis. After your dog’s checkup, your vet can recommend a specific brand and approve a prescription for specialized foods.
How To Introduce New Meals to Your Pet
Your furry friend does not always welcome a new brand of food, and some dogs aren’t shy about their displeasure with foul-tasting food. Encouraging your dog to eat new brands can be a slow process that takes several days or weeks. Some of the products include manufacturer recommendations for helping your dog adjust.
On the first day you introduce a new meal, only add a small amount to your pet’s existing brand. You can gradually increase the portions each day until your dog eats its meals without the old food.
Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplements
If you’ve tried several brands, but your dog cannot warm up to any of them, you can try adding supplements to its existing food to treat its sensitive gut. However, you could run into the same problem with the product if your pet dislikes the taste. Most supplements come in powders or liquids, and they’re easier to disguise in wet food than kibble. Before adding a supplement, remember to check with your veterinarian to ensure it’s safe and beneficial to your dog’s condition.
What’s the deal with my dog being so gassy unexpectedly?
A sudden rise in gas is usually caused by a change in dog food, your dog eating something rotten, or a nutritional mishap such as ingesting rubbish. If dogs eat too much air with their meal, they might generate more gas.
When it comes to food allergies, how long does it take for a dog to recover?
Allergies are the immune system’s reaction to a trigger chemical. When a dog gets a food allergy, it is common for them to have it for the rest of their lives. However, allergic signs such as irritated skin, nausea, and diarrhea should subside within a few weeks of eliminating the problematic ingredient(s) from your dog’s diet. The time it takes to heal is based on the intensity of the symptoms.
Is it necessary to feed my dog a boring diet?
It all relies on your puppy’s level of sensitivity. Try a restricted diet if Rover has trouble eating foods with a variety of different nutrients or if you can’t manage to get his diarrhea to go away.
Is it true that boiling chicken and brown rice might assist with the symptoms? Yes, as long as your pet doesn’t have a food allergy to chicken or rice. Both the chicken and the rice are readily digested and stomach-friendly.
How can you tell if your dog’s stomach is sensitive?
A list of probable indicators of a sensitive stomach was covered previously. Your dog may have a sensitive stomach if he vomits, has soft stools or diarrhea, or appears uneasy after eating. Always consult your veterinarian to rule out any other possible causes.
What is the difference between Prescription Diet Dog Food and Regular Dog Food?
A prescribed diet is a diet that has been carefully developed to address a certain disease. These items can be ordered via your veterinarian, straight from the factory, at select specialist pet retailers, or online.
You’ll have to have a prescription from Rover’s doctor before you can buy the food from any of the providers. Some of these specialized diets are made for dogs that have food intolerances or sensitivities.
Final Thoughts
If you have a dog with a sensitive digestive tract, Ollie’s Fresh Chicken Dog Food. is worth every penny. It’s extremely easy for dogs to absorb, reducing the risk of stomach issues. It’s our very favorite food for dogs with diarrhea.
For a similarly good option that won’t break the bank, try Gentle Giants Canine Nutrition. It’s loaded with digestible grains, so your pup shouldn’t have any issues keeping it down. If you’re searching for a budget dog food for upset stomachs, this is it.
It’s heartbreaking to watch your best friend suffer from stomach problems. If you’ve gone to the vet and ruled out any underlying issues, consider switching to one of the foods outlined in the reviews above.
They’re all designed to be gentle on the digestive tract, and they may be exactly what your dog needs to feel regular again.
